CA2620362A1 - Comb polymers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing a comb polymer comprising the steps of : a) providing: (i) (w+z) molar equivalents of a monomer; (ii) one molar equivalent of an initiator compound of formula (IX), wherein B3 represents a halogen, B2 represents H or a halogen, Y1 represents a group capable of attaching the residue of an antibody or fragment thereof or capable of being converted into such a group, L represents a linker group, y is 1, 2 or 3, w is at least 1 and z is 0 or greater; (iii) a catalyst capable of catalysing the polymerisation of a plurality of the monomers to produce the comb polymer; and b) causing the catalyst to catalyse, in combination with the initiator, the polymerisation of a plurality of the monomers (i) to produce the comb polymer.

Description

COMB POLYMERS

The present invention relates to compounds for use in attaching effector molecules to antibodies. More specifically the invention relates to molecules comprising antibody -comb polymer conjugates to which effector molecules and solubilising moieties are attached. Methods for the production of such molecules, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are also provided.
The binding specificity of antibodies can be used to deliver effector molecules, such as drugs, to specific therapeutic targets such as tumor cells. Effector molecules may be attached to antibodies using various methods including for example, direct attachment (see for example, US 5,677,425; EP0948544) or attachment via a linker (see for example US 6,214,345).
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) may be attached to proteins or polypeptides to reduce immunogenicity, increase circulating half-life in vivo and to increase the solubility of the protein. PEG may be attached to the protein as a comb polymer (see for example W02004/113394).
The present invention provides new antibody-comb polymer conjugates to which both effector molecules and solubilising moieties may be attached.
The present invention therefore provides compounds consisting essentially of one or more antibodies linked to one or more comb polymers in which the comb polyrner comprises one or more effector molecules and optionally one or more solubilising groups.
Accordingly the present invention provides a compound of formula (Ia) or (Ib):

B~--X ~ H L~Y---'AJY
(Ia) L
[BI--X ~ H ~Y m A
(lb) wherein:
y is 1, 2 or 3 m is 1,2,3,4,5, 6, 7,8, 9 or 10 B1 represents a halogen BZ represents H or a halogen A represents the residue of an antibody or fragment thereof Y represents a spacer group L represents a linker group X represents a comb polymer moiety comprising w equivalents of one or more effector molecules and z equivalents of one or more water solubilising moieties, wherein w is at least 1, and z is 0 or greater.

Preferably the compound of formula (la) has the formula (IIa).

B ~~ X 1 yiLiY''~AJy (IIa) Preferably the compound of fornlula (Ib) has the fonnula (IIb).
g2 O
[B1 -X ~ I ~ H-'L\Y A
~

(IIb) Suitably m is I or 2.
In one embodiment, y is 1.
Preferably the halogen for use in the present invention is either bromine or chlorine. Preferably chlorine.
As used herein, the term "residue" will be understood to mean that portion of an antibody or fragment thereof which remains after it has undergone a substitution reaction as such terminology is familiar to the person skilled in the art.
The residue A includes residues of whole antibodies and funetionally active fragments or derivatives thereof and may be, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, Fab' and F(ab')2 fragments and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above.
It will be appreciated that the residue A includes residues of cross-linked antibodies. Such cross-linked antibodies are well known in the art (see for example US
5,262,524). The term 'cross-linked antibodies' as used herein refers to two, three or four antibodies or fragments thereof, linked by a connecting structure. The connecting structure may be any molecular structure capable of linking the antibodies or fragments thereof together see for example W092/22583 which describes tri- and tetra-valent monospecific antigen-binding proteins comprising Fab' fragments bound to each other by a connecting structure. In one embodiment the cross-linked antibody comprises three antibody fragments, preferably Fab' fragments connected as described in W02005113605, published 1 December 2005. In another embodiment the cross-linked antibody comprises two antibody fragments connected as described in W02005/061005.
Antibodies include immunoglobulin molecules and iinmunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e. molecules that contain an antigen binding site that specifically binds an antigen. The immunoglobulin molecules of the invention can be of any class (e.g. IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD or IgA) or subclass of immunoglobulin molecule.
Monoclonal antibodies may be prepared by any method known in the art such as the hybridoma technique (Kohler & Milstein, Nature, 1975, 256, 495-497), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., In2munology Today, 1983, 4, 72) and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., "Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy", pp. 77-96, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1985).
Antibodies for use in the invention may also be generated using single lymphocyte antibody methods by cloning and expressing immunoglobulin variable region cDNAs generated from single lymphocytes selected for the production of specific antibodies by, for example, the methods described by Babcook, J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA, 1996, 93(15), 7843-7848, WO 92/0255 1, W02004/051268 and W02004/106377.
Humanized antibodies are antibody molecules comprising one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from a non-human species and a framework region from a human immunoglobulin molecule (see, for example, US
5,585,089).

Chimeric antibodies are those antibodies encoded by immunoglobulin genes that have been genetically engineered so that the light and heavy chain genes are composed of immunoglobulin gene segments belonging to different species.
The antibodies for use in the present invention can also be generated using various phage display methods luiown in the art and include those disclosed by Brinkman et al., J.
Immunol. Methods, 1995, 182, 41-50; Ames et al., J. Immunol. Methods, 1995, 184, 177-186; Kettleborough et al. Eur. J. Immunol., 1994, 24, 952-958; Persic et al., Gene, 1997 187, 9-18; and Burton et al., Advances in Ibramunology, 1994, 57, 191-280; WO
90/02809;
WO 91/10737; WO 92/01047; WO 92/18619; WO 93/11236; WO 95/15982; and WO
95/20401; and US 5,698,426; 5,223,409; 5,403,484; 5,580,717; 5,427,908;

5,750,753;
5,821,047; 5,571,698; 5,427,908; 5,516,637; 5,780,225; 5,658,727; 5,733,743;
and 5,969,108. Techniques for the production of single chain antibodies, such as those described in US 4,946,778, can also be adapted to produce single chain antibodies. Also, transgenic mice, or other organisms, including other mammals, may be used to express humanized antibodies.
In one example the antibody fragments are Fab' fragments which possess a native or a modified hinge region. A number of modified hinge regions have already been described, for example, in US 5,677,425, WO9915549, and W09825971 and these are incorporated herein by reference Other antibody fragments include those described in W02005003169, W02005003170 and W02005003171.
Suitably the antibody fragments for use in the present invention contain a single free thiol, preferably in the hinge region.

The antibodies or fragments thereof of the present invention will in general be capable of selectively binding to an antigen. The antigen may be any cell-associated antigen, for example a cell surface antigen on cells such as bacterial cells, yeast cells, T-cells, endothelial cells or tumour cells, or it may be a soluble antigen.
Antigens may also be any medically relevant antigen such as those antigens upregulated during disease or infection, for example receptors and/or their corresponding ligands.
Particular examples of cell surface antigens include adhesion molecules, for example integrins such as (31 integrins e.g. VLA-4, E-selectin, P selectin or L-selectin, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD11a, CD11b, CD18, CD19, CD20, CD23, CD25, CD33, CD38, CD40, CD45, CDW52, CD69, CD70, CD134, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), MUC-1, MHC Class I

and MHC Class II antigens, and VEGF, and where appropriate, receptors thereof.
Soluble antigens include interleukins such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL- 16 or IL- 17, viral antigens for example respiratory syncytial virus or cytomegalovirus antigens, immunoglobulins, such as IgE, interferons such as interferon 5 a, interferon (3 or interferon y, tumour necrosis factor-a, tumor necrosis factor-j3, colony stimulating factors such as G-CSF or GM-CSF, and platelet derived growth factors such as PDGF-a, and PDGF-(3 and where appropriate receptors thereof.

The spacer group for use in the present invention, will suitably comprise any moiety familiar to the person skilled in the art which is capable of forming a bridge between the linker and the antibody or fragment thereof. In particular the spacer group Y
will suitably comprise any moiety familiar to the person skilled in the art which is capable of forming a bridge between the linker L and the residue A. In one example, where A is the residue of an antibody or a fragment thereof containing a cysteine residue the corresponding spacer group Y will suitably be succinimide (i.e. the reaction product of a maleimide residue with the cysteine-containing polypeptide residue A via a thiol linkage and the linker L through the maleimide nitrogen atom).
The linker group L will suitably comprise any moiety familiar to the person skilled in the art which is capable of forming a bridge between the spacer group Y and the N atom of the amide group. L may be straight chain or branched.
Typical examples of L include:
-(CH2)õ- wherein n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6;
O

O
Hence in one embodiment, L represents -(CHz)õ -. Preferably n is 2.
In another embodiment, L represents O
S
N-~,~0 _l3 In the present invention, X represents a comb polymer moiety comprising w equivalents of one or more effector molecules and z equivalents of a water solubilising moiety.
X therefore suitably comprises the components of formula III and N in any order.
RI

CO

M
W W
(III) f;iCH
- CO

M
Z
z (N) wherein:
w is at least 1.
z is 0 or greater.
T is absent or a linker group W is an effector molecule Z is a water solubilising moiety MisNHorO
R' is methyl or H

Suitably M is NH.

Typically w is between 1 and 300. Suitably w is between 1 and 200. In one embodiment w is between 1 and 100. In one embodiment w is between 1 and 50. In one embodiment w is between 1 and 20.

Typically z is between 0 and 300. Suitably z is between 0 and 200. Suitably z is at least 1. In one embodiment z is between 1 and 200. In one embodiment z is between 1 and 100. In one embodiment z is between 1 and 50. In one embodiment z is between 1 and 20.

The total amount of compounds III and IV (i.e. w+z) present in X is at least 1.
Typically w+z is between 1 and 300. In one embodiment w+z is 15. In one embodiment w+z is 13. In one embodiment w+z is 41. In one embodiment w+z is 96. In one einbodiment w+z is 165. In one embodiment w+z is 262.
Where w+z is 41 preferably w is 6 and preferably z is 35.

Suitable linkers, T, where present, are well known in the art. Particularly preferred linkers are self-immolative linkers. Examples of self-irmnolative linkers are described in US 6,214,345. Particularly preferred is a linker having the fomlula (V) below:

/
Tl >=O
HN
O
H
N

O
HN

}-O
O

(V) wherein T' represents [CHZ]t or CHaCHZ[OCHZCH2]õ where t is between 1 and 10 and n is between 5 and 100. In one embodiment, T' represents [CHa]t. In one embodiment t is 5. In one embodiment T1 represents CH2CH2[OCH2CH2],,. In one embodiment n is between 5 and 30, preferably either 12 or 24. In another embodiment n is between 40 and 100, preferably between 40 and 80.

It will be appreciated that the effector molecule, W, may comprise a single effector molecule or two or more such molecules so linked as to form a single moiety.
Examples of such moieties include effector molecules linked by branched connecting structures.
It will also be appreciated that where w is greater than 1, each W can be the same or different.
Effector molecules for use in the present invention include biologically active compounds suitable for medicinal or diagnostic use in the treatment of animals, including humans. Such molecules include nucleic acids (e.g. DNA and RNA), carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, polypeptides, peptides, peptidomimetics, small molecules and other drugs such as those listed in US 6,214,345, colunm 8, line 49 to column 9 line 13.
Examples of effector molecules may include cytotoxins or cytotoxic agents including any agent that is detrimental to (e.g. kills) cells. Examples include minor-groove binders (see for example the conlpounds provided in Expert Opinion in Therapeutic Patents, 2004, 14, 1693-1724), combrestatins, dolastatins, auristatins, epothilones, staurosporin, maytansinoids, spongistatins, rhizoxin, halichondrins, roridins, hemiasterlins, taxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine, mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin and analogs or homologs thereof. In one embodiment the cytotoxic agent is the residue of a 3-substituted 1 -(chloromethyl)- 1,2-dihydro-3H- [ring fused indol-5-yl(amine-derived)] compound or analogue thereof as described in W003097635. In one embodiment the cytotoxic agent is the residue of 1-(chloromethyl)-3-[(2E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-benzo[e]indol-5-amine.
Effector molecules also include, but are not limited to, antimetabolites (e.g.
methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g. mechlorethamine, thioepa, chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) and lomustine (CCNU), cyclothosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g. daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) and doxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g. dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), bleomycin, mithramycin, anthramycin (AMC), calicheamicins or duocarmycins), and anti-mitotic agents (e.g.
vincristine and vinblastine).
Other effector molecules may include chelated radionuclides such as 111In and 90Y, Lul77 , Bismuth213, Californium252, Iridium192 and Tungsten188/Rheniuml88; or drugs such as but not limited to, alkylphosphocholines, topoisomerase I inhibitors, taxoids and suramin.
Other effector molecules include proteins, peptides and enzymes. Enzymes of interest include, but are not limited to, proteolytic enzynzes, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, transferases. Proteins, polypeptides and peptides of interest include, but are not limited to, immunoglobulins, toxins such as abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diplitheria toxin, a protein such as insulin, tumour necrosis factor, a-interferon, (3-interferon, nerve growth factor, platelet derived growth factor or tissue plasminogen activator, a thrombotic agent or an anti-angiogenic agent, e.g. angiostatin or endostatin, or, a biological response modifier such as a lymphokine, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), nerve growth factor (NGF) or other growth factor and immunoglobulins.
Other effector molecules may include detectable substances useful for example in diagnosis. Examples of detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, radioactive nuclides, positron emitting metals (for use in positron emission tomography), and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. See generally U.S. Patent No.
4,741,900 for metal ions which can be conjugated to antibodies for use as diagnostics.
Suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; suitable prosthetic groups include streptavidin, avidin and biotin;
suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride and phycoerythrin; suitable luminescent materials include luminol; suitable bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin; and suitable radioactive nuclides include 1asI, 131I1111In and 99Tc.

Other effector molecules may include proteins or polymers or other compounds that may be used to extend the half-life and/or decrease the immunogenicity of the compound of the present invention. Examples of suitable proteins include albumin and albumin binding proteins or albumin binding fatty acids. Examples of suitable polymers include those described below, in particular optionally substituted straight or branched chain polyalkylene, polyalkenylene, or polyoxyalkylene polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol).
5 The water solubilising moiety, Z, for use in the present invention includes any suitable solubilising moiety known in the art such as charged species (positive and negative) such as acids, aniines, quaternary amines, zwitterionic species such as amino acids, polymers such as polyethylene glycol, mono or poly hydroxyalkanes, alcohols (mono, di and tri) and sugars. A particular exainple of a suitable amine is 10 phosphocholine.
Examples of suitable polymers include any synthetic or naturally occurring substantially water-soluble, substantially non-antigenic polymer including, for example, optionally substituted straight or branched chain polyalkylene, polyalkenylene, or polyoxyalkylene polymers or branched or unbranched polysaccharides, e.g. a homo- or hetero- polysaccharide such as lactose, amylose, dextran or glycogen.
Particular optional substituents which may be present on the above-mentioned synthetic polymers include one or more hydroxy, methyl or methoxy groups. Particular exainples of synthetic polymers include optionally substituted straight or branched chain poly(ethyleneglycol), poly(propyleneglycol), poly(vinylalcohol) or derivatives thereof, especially optionally substituted poly(ethyleneglycol) such as methoxypoly(ethyleneglycol).
Preferably the polymer is a polyalkylene oxide such as polyethylene glycol (PEG).
As regards attaching PEG moieties in general, reference is made to "Poly(ethyleneglycol) Chemistry, Biotechnical and Biomedical Applications", 1992, J. Milton Harris (ed), Plenum Press, New York; "Poly(ethyleneglycol) Chemistry and Biological Applications", 1997, J. Milton Harris and S. Zalipsky (eds), American Chemical Society, Washington DC; and "Bioconjugation Protein Coupling Techniques for the Biomedical Sciences", 1998, M. Aslam and A. Dent, Grove Publishers, New York.
The size of the polymer may be varied as desired, but will generally be in an average molecular weight range from 150 to 100,000Da, preferably from 2,000 to 50,000Da, more preferably from 10,000 to 40,000Da and still more preferably from 20,000 to 40,000Da.
It will be appreciated that where z is greater than 1, each Z can be the same or different.

In one embodiment the water solubilising moiety Z is:

OH
HO
OH
HO
OH
In one embodiment the water solubilising moiety Z is:
HO OH

OH
In one embodiment the water solubilising moiety Z is:

Me 0 , -, In one embodiment the water solubilising moiety Z is:
HO

In one embodiment the water solubilising moiety Z is:
~oH
f)H
Also provided by the present invention are valuable intermediate compounds suitable for the attachment of an antibody. Said compounds consist essentially of the following elements: a comb polymer comprising one or more effector molecules and optionally one or more solubilising groups and a group capable of attaching the residue A
or capable of being converted into such a group.
Accordingly the present invention provides compounds according to formula (VI) N__- L
Bl-X ~ H "'IYI I Y
(VI) wherein:
Y1 represents a group capable of attaching the residue A, or capable of being converted into such a group L, X, B1, B2 and y are as described herein above.
Yl is a group known in the art suitable for linking L and A or capable of being converted into such a group. For example Y' may be a protected derivative i.e is masked by another group, a'protecting group' to prevent Yl from reacting with other groups in the compound. Such protected derivatives are capable of being readily converted to a group capable of attaching A. Examples of such groups are protected thiols where the protecting group can be readily removed to provide a free thiol for reaction with the residue A. Conditions for removal of the protecting group are preferably such that the biological activity of the components of the comb polymer are not affected.
Suitable protected thiols are known in the art and include thioethers (eg. trityl protected), thioesters (e.g. acetyl or propionyl protected), thiocarbonates, thiocarbamates and sulfenyls.
The group Yl may be attached to the residue A through any available amino acid side-chain or terminal amino acid functional group located in the antibody or fragment thereof, for example any free amino, imino, thiol, hydroxy or carboxyl group.
Such amino acids may occur naturally in, for example, the antibody fragment or may be engineered into the antibody or fragment thereof using recombinant DNA methods (see, for example, US 5,219,996 and US 5,677,425). In a preferred aspect of the invention the two groups are covalently linked through a thiol group of a cysteine residue located in the antibody or fragment thereof, preferably in the hinge. The covalent linkage will generally be a disulphide bond or a sulphur-carbon bond, preferably the latter. In one example where a thiol group is used as the point of attachment appropriately activated groups, for example thiol-selective derivatives such as maleimide may be used.
Yl may be any suitable group including any of those listed in W02004/113394 pages 9-11.
Yi may be -S-S-R2 wherein R2 is any straight or branched chain C1_6 alkyl or substituted aromatic.

Yl maybe -s-s Yl maybe - S-S- \ / NO2 Y' maybe - s-s-Yl may be O
~-N ~
O

Yl maybe O
N

O
Yl maybe -S

Yl maybe -SH
Yl may be As used herein, the term "C1_6 alkyl" refers to straight-chained and branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Such groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl. Preferably R2 is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl. Preferably R2 is tert-butyl.
In a preferred feature, Yl represents - SI S_~

Accordingly, one illustrative compound of formula (VI) above is represented by the compound of formula (VII):

BI -X N-%'SlS_~
H
(VII) In a preferred feature, Y' represents a maleimide derivative attached to the remainder of the molecule through the maleimide nitrogen atom. Accordingly, one illustrative compound of formula (VI) above is represented by the compound of formula (VIII):

S
Bl- X H~ N-(.~043-N

(VIII) According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a pharmaceutical 5 composition which comprises a coinpound of formula (Ia) or (Ib) in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents.
Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may take a form suitable for oral, buccal, parenteral, nasal, topical, ophthalmic or rectal administration, or a form suitable for administration by inhalation or insufflation.
10 For oral administration, the pharmaceutical compositions may take the form of, for example, tablets, lozenges or capsules prepared by conventional means with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as binding agents (e.g.
pregelatinised maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose); fillers (e.g.
lactose, microcrystalline cellulose or calcium hydrogenphosphate); lubricants (e.g.
magnesium 15 stearate, talc or silica); disintegrants (e.g. potato starch or sodium glycollate); or wetting agents (e.g. sodium lauryl sulphate). The tablets may be coated by methods well known in the art. Liquid preparations for oral administration may take the form of, for example, solutions, syrups or suspensions, or they may be presented as a dry product for constitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may be prepared by conventional means with pharmaceutically acceptable additives such as suspending agents, emulsifying agents, non-aqueous vehicles or preservatives.
The preparations may also contain buffer salts, flavouring agents, colouring agents or sweetening agents, as appropriate.
Preparations for oral administration may be suitably formulated to give controlled release of the active compound.
For buccal administration, the compositions may take the form of tablets or lozenges formulated in conventional manner.
The compounds of formula (Ia) or (Ib) may be formulated for parenteral administration by injection, e.g. by bolus injection or infusion. Formulations for injection may be presented in unit dosage form, e.g. in glass ampoules or multi-dose containers, e.g. glass vials. The compositions for injection may take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilising, preserving and/or dispersing agents.
Alternatively, the active ingredient may be in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g.
sterile pyrogen-free water, before use.

In addition to the formulations described above, the compounds of formula (Ia) or (Ib) may also be formulated as a depot preparation. Such long-acting formulations may be administered by implantation or by intramuscular injection.
For nasal administration or administration by inhalation, the compounds according to the present invention may be conveniently delivered in the form of an aerosol spray presentation for pressurised packs or a nebuliser, with the use of a suitable propellant, e.g.
dichlorodifluoromethane, fluorotrichloromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas or mixture of gases.
The compositions may, if desired, be presented in a pack or dispenser device which may contain one or more unit dosage forms containing the active ingredient. The pack or dispensing device may be accompanied by instructions for administration.
For topical administration the compounds according to the present invention may be conveniently formulated in a suitable ointment containing the active component suspended or dissolved in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
Particular carriers include, for example, mineral oil, liquid petroleum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, emulsifying wax and water. Alternatively, the compounds according to the present invention may be formulated in a suitable lotion containing the active component suspended or dissolved in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Particular carriers include, for example, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol and water.
For ophthalmic administration the compounds according to the present invention may be conveniently formulated as microionized suspensions in isotonic, pH-adjusted sterile saline, either with or without a preservative such as a bactericidal or fungicidal agent, for example phenylmercuric nitrate, benzylalkonium chloride or chlorhexidine acetate. Alternatively, for ophthalmic administration compounds may be formulated in an ointment such as petrolatum.

For rectal administration the compounds according to the present invention may be conveniently formulated as suppositories. These can be prepared by mixing the active component with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at room temperature but liquid at rectal temperature and so will melt in the rectum to release the active component.
Such materials include, for example, cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.
The quantity of a compomld of the invention required for the prophylaxis or treatment of a particular condition will vary depending on the compound chosen and the condition of the patient to be treated. In general, however, daily dosages may range from around 10 ng/kg to 1000 mg/kg, typically from 100 ng/kg to 100 mg/kg, e.g.
around 0.01 mg/kg to 40 mg/kg body weight for oral or buccal administration, from around 10 ng/kg to 50 mg/kg body weight for parenteral administration, and from around 0.05 mg to around 1000 mg, e.g. from around 0.5 mg to around 1000 mg, for nasal administration or administration by inhalation or insufflation.
The compounds of the present invention may be prepared by using methods analogous to those in the Examples provided herein.
Typically the compounds of formula (Ia) and (Ib) may be prepared by a process which comprises attachment of residue A to a compound of formula (VI) using procedures which are well known to the person skilled in the art. Where the compound of formula (VI) is used to produce the compound of formula (Ib) it will be appreciated that y =1.
The comb polymer moiety X may be prepared using any suitable polymerisation method known in the art. Suitable methods include living free radical polymerisation systems, see for example W096/30421 and W097/18247. Preferably the polymerisation method used is living radical polymerisation, as described in W02004/113394, W097/47661 and W099/28362. Optionally, the polymerisation may also include a non-polymerisable scavenger agent, for exainple a disulfide.

Accordingly the present invention also provides a process for producing a comb-polymer comprising the steps of :

a) providing:

(i) (w+z) molar equivalents of a monomer (ii) one molar equivalent of an initiator compound of formula (IX) n-'L__f_Yj ]y (IX) wherein B3 is a halogen and Y1, L, B2, y and (w+z) are as defined above;

(iii) a catalyst capable of catalysing the polymerisation of a plurality of the monomers to produce the comb polymer; and b) causing the catalyst to catalyse, in combination with the initiator, the polymerisation of a plurality of the monomers (i) to produce the comb polymer.
The compound of formula (IX) is a novel compound and therefore constitutes a further feature of the present invention.

The compound of formula (IX) may be prepared by a process which comprises reacting a compound of formula (X) with a compound of formula (XI):

B3 ~ Q
(X) H2N~ lY
(XI) wherein:
Q is a suitable leaving group. The leaving group Q is typically a halogen atom, eg.
chloro.
The monomer for use in step (i) of the process may be any monomer for use in the production of the 'backbone' of the comb to which effector and solubilising moieties may be subsequently attached. Examples of such monomers are:
Rl O
O
N'O

The invention also provides a process for producing a comb-polymer comprising effector molecules and optionally solubilising moieties said method further comprising step (c) in which the comb-polymer produced in step (b) is reacted with w equivalents of one or more effector molecules and z equivalents of one or more solubilising moieties wherein w and z are as set out above. The comb polymers produced by steps (b) and (c) of the above method are novel compounds and constitute a further feature of the present invention.

The invention also provides a process for producing a comb-polymer attached to at least one antibody or fragment thereof said process comprising attaching the comb polymer produced in step (b) or step (c) to at least one antibody or fragment thereof.
The antibody-comb polymer conjugates produced by this process are novel compounds and constitute a furtlier feature of the present invention.

Preferably the effector molecule moiety for use in step (c) has the formula where T and W are as defined above. Where present T preferably has the formula (V) as depicted above.

Preferably the solubilising moiety for use in step (c) has the formula H2N-Z
where Z is as defined above.
Preferably the solubilising moiety for use in step (c) has the formula:

~OH
C?FA
Alternatively, in the process of the present invention, the monomers for use in step (i) may already comprise the effector and/or solubilising moieties. Suitable monomers are well known in the art and will comprise Z, T and W moieties as defined above.
In one example where the monomer comprises the effector moiety the monomer has the formula:

Rl O
-~-Iy M

T
W
In one example where the monomer comprises the solubilising moiety the monomer has the formula:
RI
O
-~--Iy M

wherein R1, M, T, W and Z are all as defined herein above.

The catalyst for use in step (a) of the process is any suitable catalyst known in the art.
10 Examples of such catalysts have been provided in W096/30421, W097/18247, W02004/113394, W097/47661 and W099/28362. Typically the catalyst is a transition metal salt where the transition metal has an oxidation state capable of being oxidised by one formal oxidation state plus an organodiimine. It will be appreciated that the catalyst may be a mixture. Suitably the catalyst is a mix of Cu(I)Cl and N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridyl 15 inetlianimine (NMPI). Suitably the catalyst is used in the ratio initiator compound of formula (IX): Cu(I)Cl: NMPI of 1:1:2.

The amount of monomer required in step (i) of the process will depend on the number of units required in the polymer. For example, where a 15 unit polymer is required a 15:1 20 ratio of monomer to initiator may be used. Typical lengths of polymers are in the 1-300 unit range. In one preferred embodiment the unit length is 41.

Where a mixture of products is obtained from any of the processes described above for the preparation of compounds according to the invention, the desired product can be separated therefrom at an appropriate stage by conventional methods such as precipitation, dialysis, molecular weight filtration, gel permeation chromatography; cation or anion exchange; preparative HPLC; or colunm chromatography utilising, for example, silica and/or alumina in conjunction with an appropriate solvent system.
During any of the above synthetic sequences it may be necessary and/or desirable to protect sensitive or reactive groups on any of the molecules concerned.
This may be achieved by means of conventional protecting groups, such as those described in Protective Groups in Organic Clzefnistfy, ed. J.F.W. McOmie, Plenum Press, 1973; and T.W. Greene & P.G.M. Wuts, Protective Groups in. Ofganic Syntlzesis, John Wiley &
Sons, 3rd edition, 1999. The protecting groups may be removed at any convenient subsequent stage utilising methods known from the art.
The present invention also provides compounds consisting essentially of the following elements: a comb polymer suitable for the attachment of effector and opitionally solubilising moieties and an antibody. Hence, in another aspect, the present invention provides novel compounds which are valuable intermediates for the attachment of effector molecules, solubilising moieties and antibodies or fragments thereof of which A is a residue. Thus, the invention also provides compounds of formula (XII):

w+z H TY, ly O ONHS

(XII) Suitably the coinpound of formula (XII) has the formula (XIII) Bil w+z Nj Yi IY
O ONHS

(XIII) Suitably the compound of formula (XIII) has the formula (XIV) g2 O
JJLN-S..
w+z H
ONHS
(X
IV) The compounds of formula XII, XIII and XIV are examples of the product of step (b) of the method described above.

The following non-limiting Examples illustrate the invention.
Examples Initiator Synthesis Ci O

CI I ~ N~'~S, S~
H
/

To a solution of 2-(t-butyldithio)-ethylamine hydrochloride (synthesis described in JACS, (1961), 83, 4414-17) (5.101g, 0.025mo1) and diisopropylethyl amine (8.16g, 0.063mo1) in dichloromethane (100m1) at 0 C was added over 10 minutes a solution of 3-(dichloromethyl) benzoyl chloride (5.929g, 0.027mo1) in dichloromethane (20m1). The solution was stirred at 0 C for half an hour then allowed to warm to ambient temperature.
The reaction was washed with 0.1 M HC1 (100m1) and water (100m1), dried over magnesium sulphate and the solvent removed under vacuum. The resulting residue was purified by silica column chromatography eluting with 20% ethyl acetate 80%
hexane to give the product as a colourless solid 8.52g, 96%.

8H (d6DMSO) 1.31 (9H, s), 2.92 (2H, t, J 7.02Hz), 3.54 (2H, q), 7.55 (1H, s), 7.57 (1H, t, J7.73Hz), 7.78 (1H, dt, J8.37Hz, J1.41Hz), 7.89 (1H, dt, J7.89Hz, J1.38Hz), 8.12 (1H, t, J1.73Hz), 8.79 (1H, t, J5.48Hz). LCMS (ES+) 373.7 (MNa+, 100%), 351.7 (MH+, 65%).

Polymerisation Procedure CI n H

~ 0 O~
A typical synthesis is described for Polymer C
Reactions were carried out in Schlenlc tubes sealed with rubber septa. Cu(I)Cl (0.16 g, 0.00164 mol) was added to the reaction vessel and subsequently deoxygenated by three consecutive vacuum, nitrogen purge cycles. To a second Schlenk tube Initiator (0.58 g, 0.00164 mol), N-hydroxy succinimide methacrylate (NHSMA) (15.0 g, 0.0819 mol), mesitylene (3.0 mL) and dimethyl sulphoxide (30 mL) were added and the mixture deoxygenated by purging with nitrogen for 30 minutes. Mesitylene (1m1) is present as a standard marker to enable conversion calculations from 1H NMR. Once the solution was fully degassed N-(n-Propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine (0.51 mL, 0.00328 mol) was added by pre-dried gas tight syringe to the Schlenk tube containing the copper chloride. The solution in the second Schlenk was then added to the catalyst containing Schlenk via a nitrogen purged stainless steel canular and the reaction mixture immediately placed in to a pre-heated oil bath set at 100 C. Samples were taken using deoxygenated gas tight syringe and immediately quenched by freezing in liquid nitrogen. The reaction was terminated by cooling rapidly and subsequent exposure to air. Polymers were purified by multiple precipitations from acetone using copious amounts of acetone to wash away dimethyl sulphoxide.

Polymer A
Cu(I)C10.54 g, 0.00546 mol, Initiator 1.92 g, 0.00546 mol, NHSMA 15.0 g, 0.0819 mol DMSO 30mL, Mesitylene 3mL, N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine 1.70 mL, 0.0109 mol Polymer B
Cu(I)C10.20 g, 0.00204 mol, Initiator 0.72 g, 0.00204 mol, NHSMA 15.0 g, 0.0819 mol, DMSO 30 mL, Mesitylene 3mL, N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine 0.64 mL, 0.00409 mol Polymer C
Cu(I)C10.16 g, 0.00164 mol, Initiator 0.58 g, 0.00164 inol, NHSMA 15.0 g, 0.0819 mol, DMSO 30mL, Mesitylene lmL, N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine 0.51 mL, 0.00328 mol Polymer D
Cu(I)C10.08 g, 0.00082 mol, Initiator 0.29 g, 0.00082 mol, NHSMA 15.0 g, 0.0819 mol DMSO 30mL, Mesitylene lmL, N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine 0.26 mL, 0.00164 mol Polymer E
Cu(I)C10.07 g, 0.00073 mol, Initiator 0.26 g, 0.00073 mol, NHSMA 20.0 g, 0.1092 mol, DMSO 40mL, Mesitylene 1 mL, N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine 0.23 mL, 0.00146 mol Pol ierF
Cu(I)C10.036 g, 0.00036 mol, Initiator 0.13 g, 0.00036 mol, NHSMA 20.0 g, 0.1092 mol, DMSO 40mL, Mesitylene 1mL, N-(n-propyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine 0.11 mL, 0.00073 mol Polymer Time Conversion DP DP PDI
(Mins) (1H NMR) (GPC) (GPC) A 40 67% 5 17 1.19 B 50 66% 13 24 1.31 C 60 78% 41 100 1.19 D 60 69% 96 110 1.20 E 60 72% 164 175 1.34 F 120 64% 262 195 1.31 Intermediate 1 a _ 0 0 \ ~ O~H~O\N
~ O
/ O
~

N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (1.8mL, 10.35mmol) was added to a stirred mixture of N-Fmoc-6-aminocaproic acid (2g, 5.67mmol) (from Bachem), N-hydroxysuccinimide (0.78g, 6.78mmol) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (1.4g, 6.8mmol) in DCM (30mL) and stirred for 2h. The reaction mixture was filtered through celite and concentrated by rotary evaporation. The product was crystallised from ether, filtered, washed several times with ether and dried to give 2.5g (98%). 1H.n.m.r. (CDC13), S 7.75-7.70 (d, 2H), 7.64-7.50 (d, 2H), 7.4 (dd, 1H), 7.3 (dd, 1H), 4.38-5.0 (b, 1H), 4.30-4.42 (m, 2H), 4.20-4.30 (m, 1H), 3.45 (ddd, 1H), 3.10-3.25 (m, 2H), 2.70-2.85 (b, 4H), 2.50-2.65 (m, 3H). LCMS, (ES+), 449.2 (1VIH-'), 473 (MNa+).

Intermediate lb OH
O H O I ~
O'\H N H ~
O

\ / HZN~H

A mixture of Fmoc-Val-Cit (5.32g, 10.70 mmol) (prepared as described in Bioconjugate Chem. 2002, 13, 855-869), EEDQ (5.32g, 21.54mmol), andp-aminobenzyl alcohol (2.65g, 21.50mmo1) in DCM-MeOH, 2:1 (150mL) was stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and the solid product triturated, filtered, washed 5 several times with ethyl acetate, then DCM and dried to give 5.05 (78%).
1H.n.m.r.
(DMSO-d6), 59.97 (bs, 1H), 8.10 (d, 1H), 7.90 (d, 2H), 7.75 (t, 2H), 7.55 (d, 2H), 7.42 (t, 3H), 7.33 (t, 2H), 7.24 (d, 2H), 5.96 (b, 1H), 5.40 (bs, 2H), 5.09 (t, 1H), 4.43 (m, 3H), 4.2-4.35 (m, 3H), 3.94 (t, 1H), 2.93-3.04 (m, 2H), 1.99 (b, 1H), 1.58-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.40-1.50 (m, 2H), 0.87 (m, 6H). LCMS (ES+), 603 (MH+), 625 (MNa ).
Intermediate 1 c OH
'~H O ~
HZN N H I /
O
O
HZNH
A solution of 20% piperidine in DMF (3mL) was added to a stirred solution of Intermediate lb (lg, 1.66mmol) in DMF (lOmL) and the mixture stirred for 2h.
The solvent was removed and the residue partitioned between water and DCM. The aqueous layer was washed three times with DCM then concentrated and freeze-dried to give 0.62g (98%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 510.03 (s, 1H), 8.14 (b, 1H), 7.24 (d, 2H), 5.97 (t, 1H), 5.40 (b, 2H), 5.10 (b, 1H), 4.43 (b, 3H), 2.30 (b, 1H), 2.92-3.12 (m, 3H), 1.95 (m, 2H), 1.50-1.78 (m, 4H), 0.89 (d, 3H), 0.79 (d, 3H). LC/MS 381 (MH+), 403 (MNa ).
Intermediate 1d OH
O O ~
Oy N~N N N I /
H
O O H
O
HZN~H
Intermediate 1c (0.5g, 1.316mmo1) was dissolved in DMF (5mL), stirred at room temperature and Intermediate 1 a (0.592g, 1.316mmol) and DIPEA were added sequentially. The reaction mixture was stirred for 3h and the mixture poured with stirring into ice-water and the precipitated product filtered off, washed several times with water and dried to give 0.73g (78%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 59.90 (s, 1H), 8.05 (d, 1H), 7.88 (d, 2H), 7.80 (d, 1H), 7.69 (d, 2H), 7.58 (d, 2H), 7.45 (t, 2H), 7.24 (d, 2H), 5.96 (t, 1H), 5.4 (b, 2H), 5.10 (t, 1H), 4.15-4.47 (m, 7H), 2.40-3.07 (m, 4H), 2.16 (m, 2H), 1.96 (m, 1H), 0.96-1.77 (m), 0.81 (m, 7H). LCMS (ES+), 715 (MH+) 737 (MNa ).

Intermediate 1 e 'J~
/ \

H~ O ~ Y H O
OuN Ms 'H~II N H
IOI O
O
HZN'J~H

Intermediate ld (0.5g, 0.70mmo1) was dissolved in DMF (5mL) by warming the suspension. The clear solution was then stirred under N2 and 7-Isocyanato-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (0.22g, 1.09mmol) (prepared as described in Anal. Biochem., 1992, 200, 400-404) was added and the reaction mixture stirred under N2 in the dark overnight. The solidified reaction mixture was thoroughly digested in DCM, filtered, washed several times with DCM, then ether, and dried to give 0.57g (90%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 610.27 (s, 1H), 10.22 (s, 1H), 7.22-8.04 (m, 22H), 6.23 (s, 2H), 5.98 (t, 1H), 5.39 (s, 2H), 5.13 (s, 2H), 4.18-4.44 (m, 6H), 2.87-3.20 (m), 2.38 (s, 3H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.25-2.23 (m), 0.85 (m, 6H). LCMS (ES+), 938 (MNa ).
Effector Species (I) O)t,N I~O/O
~ _OII O ~
HZN-[ ~NN N I /
'', H
O
O
HZNitH

Intermediate le (0.57g, 0.62mmol) was suspended in DMF (lOmL) and a 20%
piperidine in DMF solution (3mL) added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2.5h during which the starting material gradually dissolved to form a clear solution. The mixture was rotary evaporated under reduced pressure and the residual crude was triturated in EtOAc-MeOH, 9:1, filtered, washed with same solvent and dried to give 0.42g (97%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 510.00 (s, 2H), 8.07 (d, 2H), 7.80 (d, 2H), 7.34-7.70 (m, 8H), 6.24 (m, 2H), 5.98 (t, 1H), 5.4 (s, 2H), 5.12 (s, 2H), 4.40 (m, 1H), 3.01 (m), 2.38 (s), 2.4 (s), 2.1-2.2 (m), 1.9-2.04 (m), 1.15-1.78 (m), 0.8-0.9 (m). LCMS
(ES+), 694 (MH+)=

Intermediate 2a i' ~ N CI
s~ oII \
O 0l~N
N
NN N I/ H
~
O 1/\/~IIH H
NN~H
1-(Chloromethyl)-3-[(2E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-benzo[e]indol-5-amine (55mg, 0.14mmo1), (prepared as described in W003097635) in acetonitrile was treated with 20% phosgene in toluene (1.5mL) for 1.5h. The resulting clear solution was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, co-evaporated twice with anllydrous DCM and left on the vacuum line for lh. The crude product was re-dissolved in acetonitrile (4mL) and added dropwise to a solution of ld (100mg, 0.14mmo1) in DMF (1.5mL) followed by DMAP (170mg, 1.39mmo1) that was previously dried in vacuum over sodium hydroxide and the reaction mixture was stirred for 2.5h. Tlc (DCM-MeOH, 9:1) showed formation of the product and some unreacted starting material peptide. The semisolid mixture was poured into ice water and the yellow solid was collected by filtration, washed several times with ice water and dried by air suction.
LC/MS of the crude showed the ratio of the product to the unreacted peptide was 2:1. It was dissolved in DMF aind the required product was separated using preparative TLC
(lmm silica gel thickness) in DCM-MeOH, 9:1 to give the product as yellow solid (60mg, 38%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 59.97 (bs, 1H), 9.59 (b, 1H), 8.11 (d, 1H), 8.01 (d, 1H), 7.86 (d, 1H), 7.73-7.81 (m, 2H), 7.62-7.73 (m, 3H), 7.54-7.62 (m, 3H), 7.4-7.46 (t, 1H), 7.25-7.34 (m, 3H), 7.06-7.24 (m, 3H), 6.88-6.96 (d, 2H), 6.15 (b, 1H), 5.48 (s, 2H), 5.06 (s, 21H), 4.50 (m, 2H), 4.4.08-4.25 (m, 4H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 3.10 (b, 1H), 2.9-3.03 (m, 3H), 2.18 (m, 2H), 2.04 (in, 2H), 1.77 (m, 2H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.50 (m, 2H), 1.38 (m), 1.38 (m, 2H), 1.12-1.32 (m, 6H), 0.72-0.85 (m, 6H). LC/MS RT 3.63 min, m/z 1133 (M)+.
Effector Species (II) N CI
pI' O 0 OxN
HN~H H I/ H I/
O
O
N'N~H
20% Piperidine in DMF (1.5mL) was added to a solution of 2a (60mg, 52.98mmol) in DMF (3mL) and the reaction mixture was stirred for 2h when tlc (DCM-MeOH, 9:1) showed full consumption of the starting material. All volatiles were removed by rotary evaporation and the residue was digested in DCM-ether, 1:1, filtered, washed several times with the saine solvent and dried to give 45mg (93%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 810.0 (bs, 1H), 8.68 (b, 1H), 8.10 (m, 1H), 8.02 (d, 1H), 7.92 (d, 1H), 7.80 (m, 3H), 7.66 (m, 3H), 7.56 (t, 1H), 7.42 (m, 3H), 7.10 (d, 1H), 7.02 (d, 2H), 6.00 (b, 1H), 5.42 (s, 2H), 5.14 (s, 2H), 4.53 (m, 2H), 4.39 (m, 2H), 4.19 (t, 1H), 4.03 (m, 1H), 3.93 (m, 1H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 2.90-3.06 (m, 3H), 2.55 (m, 2H), 2.18 (m, 2H), 2.0 (m, 1H), 1.72 (m, 1H), 1.63 (m, 1H), 1.50 (m, 3H), 1.38 (m, 2H), 1.23 (m, 2H), 0.8-0.88 (m, 6H). LC/MS RT 2.57 min, m/z 911 (M)+.

Intermediate 3a / \

- a '~ OyN ~ l_0 t2 O, N
' 0 1 To a solution of N-Fmoc-amido-dPEGTM12 Acid (1.Og, 1.19mmol) from Quanta Biodesign in DCM (lOmL) was added N-hydroxysuccinimide (150mg, 1.3mmo1), DCC
(270mg, 1.31mmo1), and DIPEA (517 L, 2.97mm1) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. LC/MS showed only 50% reaction and it did not improve upon the addition of more reagents and prolonged stirring. Therefore, the solid was filtered-off and the filtrate was washed with bicarbonate solution, dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. Column chromatography using DCM-MeOH, 20:1 furnished pure product (0.355g, 32% and 60%
based on recovered starting material). Then the column was eluted with MeOH to recover the unreacted starting material (0.47g). 1H.n.m.r. (CDC13), 87.76 (d, 2H), 7.61 (d, 2H), 7.38 (dd, 2H), 7.31 (dd, 2H), 5.48 (b, 1H), 4.41 (d, 2H), 4.24 (m, 1H), 3.85 (t, 2H), 3.65 (b, PEG), 3.39 (b, 2H), 2.87 (t, 1H), 2.84 (b, 3H), 1.74(b, 4H). LC/MS RT
3.17 min, m/z 937 (M)+, 938 (M+1)+.

Intermediate 3b o p -. OH
0~~O'~-1JlHYq O p ,~5 "xa lc (0.144g, 0.379mmo1) was added to a solution of 3a (0.355g, 0.379mmo1) in DMF
(3inL) followed by DIPEA (165 L, 0.95mmo1) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. LC/MS revealed that the basic medium had caused the hydrolysis of the Fmoc-protecting group from some of the product to give a mixture of the required product together with some unprotected amine. Ice water was added and a small amount of white solid was filtered off and the filtrate was freeze-dried. The semi solid was taken up in water-acetonitrile, 1:1 (lOmL) and stirred with sodium bicarbonate (50mg, 0.6mmol) and Fmoc-O-Su (150mg, 0.45mmol) for 20min. LC/MS showed completion of the reaction to give one major product. Any insoluble material was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated and loaded to C 18 colunm eluting first with water, then 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% MeOH. The required product was eluted in the 80% MeOH
fractions; these were concentrated and freeze dried to give 220mg, (48%).
1H.n.m.r.
(MeOD), 57.82 (d, 2H), 7.67 (d, 2H), 7.59 (d, 2H), 7.42 (m, 2H), 7.33 (m, 2H), 4.55 (m, 1H), 4.38 (d, 211), 4.22 (m, 2H), 3.78 (m, 2H), 3.6-3.68 (b, PEG), 3.54 (m, 2H), 2.56 (m, 2H), 2.14(m, 1H), 1.93 (m, 1H), 1.8 (m, 1H), 1.62 (m, 2H), 1.00 (m, 6H). LC/MS
RT 2.9 min, m/z 1202 (M)+.

Intermediate 3c ~
I ~
k~
H
O~H~ H~N O H
O O
H'N~H
A solution of 3b (164mg, 0.136mmol) in DMF (2mL) was stirred under N2 and 7-isocyanato-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (55mg, 0.273mmo1) (prepared as described in Anal.
Biochem., 1992, 200, 400-404) was added and stirred at 45 C for 3h. LC/MS
showed about 60% reaction and therefore more 7-isocyanato-4-methyl-chromen-2-one (30mg, 0.149mmo1) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at the same temperature for a further 2h. LC/MS showed only a trace of unreacted 3b, solvent was removed by rotary evaporation and the residue was triturated in EtOAc-MeOH, 4:1, filtered and washed 5 several times with the same solvent and dried to give 180mg (94%). 1H.n.m.r.
(300 MHz, DMSO-d6), S 9.65 (b, 1H), 7.80-7.96 (m, 1H), 7.22-7.78 (m, 9H), 6.23 (s, 1H), 5.39 (s, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 4.16-4.50 (m, 2H), 4.0-4.12 (m, 1H), 3.38-3.88 (m, includes PEG), 3.08-3.21 (m, 1H), 2.9-3.9 (m, 1H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.21-1.84 (m, 3H), 0.85 (t, 3H). LC/MS
RT 3.154 min, nz/z 1402 (M)+, 1425 (M+Na)+.
Effector Species (III) O i O ~\
OxN /
H
H O I \
H'Nv - OH H
O
O
H'N'J~ H

3c (60mg, 42.8mmol) was suspended in DMF (lmL) and 20% piperidine in DMF
solution (1mL) was added to form a clear solution, which was stirred for 1.5h.
The reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness, the residue was triturated in EtOAc and the solid was filtered, washed several times with EtOAc and dried in vacuum to give 40mg (79%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), S 10.0 (s, 1H), 8.11(d, 1H), 7.87 (d, 1H), 7.70 (d, 1H), 7.64 (d, 2H), 7.56 (d, 1H), 7.38-7.43 (m, 3H), 6.24 (s, 1H), 5.98 (m, 1H), 5.41 (b, 2H), 5.13 (b, 2H), 4.39 (m, 1H), 4.23 (m, 1H), 3.39-3.55 in, includes PEG), 3.33 (m, 1H), 2.89-3.1 (m, 2H), 2.58 (m, 2H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.98 (m, 1H), 1.74 (m, 1H), 1.61 (m, 1H), 1.31-1.52 M, 2H), 0.57-0.69 (m, 3H). LC/MS RT 2.40 min., rra/z 1181 (M+1)+.

Effector Species (IV) o ?I
0 N cl O'I
O" HI
OII H O I \
H,N _ 1, 0H H

O

HQNH

1-(Chloromethyl)-3-[(2E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-benzo[e]indol-5-amine (36mg, 91.72 mo1), (prepared as described in W003097635) in acetonitrile was treated with 20% solution of phosgene in toluene (600 L) for 4h then it was evaporated to dryness, co-evaporated twice with acetonitrile and left on the vacuum line for 0.5h. The resulting crude was dissolved in acetonitrile (3mL) and added to another solution of 3b (112mg, 93.2 mo1) in acetonitrile (3mL) under nitrogen followed by DMAP (360mg, 2.95mmol, 32eq.). DMF (200 L) was added to obtain clear solution, which was then stirred in the dark under nitrogen for 0.5h. LC/MS revealed that the required product had been formed but it had lost the Fmoc-protecting group to give the free terminal amine (RT = 2.925min) compared to RT = 3.377min for the protected amino product. The reaction mixture was first concentrated to remove excess acetonitrile then diluted with water and loaded to C18 column eluted first with water, then MeOH-water, 1:1, which removed all DMAP then the required product was eluted using 2:1 ratio.
These fractions were concentrated and freeze dried to give 75mg (58%).
1H.n.m.r.

(DMSO-d6), 8 9.88 (s, 1H), 8.99 (b, 1H), 8.65 (b, 1H), 8.07-8.11 (m, 2H), 7.78 (d, 1H), 7.66 (in, 1H), 7.53-7.68 (m, 2H), 7.37-7.46 (m, 2H), 7.29-7.35 (in, 2H), 7.00-7.02 (m, 2H), 6.57-6.59 (m, 1H), 6.58 (m, 1H), 6.01 (m, 1H), 5.4 (b, 1H), 4.18-4.47 (m, 4H), 4.00 (m, 1H), 3.92 (m, 1H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 3.28-3.63 (m, including PEG), 2.40 (m, 1H), 1.95 (m, 1H), 1.7 (m, 1H), 1.62 (m, 1H), 1.33-1.52 (m, 2H), 0.76-0.87 (m, 6H). LC/MS RT
2.906 min, m/z 1398 (M)+.

Intermediate 5a /\
- o Oy '~ N ~ L-0 '7za '0~
i O

A mixture of N-Fmoc-amido-dPEGTM24 acid (100mg, 73.lmmol) purchased from Quanta Biodesign,lV-hydroxysuccinimide (18mg, 0.156mmo1), DCC (33.1mg, 0.16mmol) and DIPEA (65 L) in DCM (2mL) was stirred overnight. LC/MS showed a new product (RT
3.042 min) compared to the starting material acid (RT 2.962 min). The solid was filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated and triturated several times with ether and dried to give 210mg (93%). 1H.n.m.r. (CDCl3), S 7.77 (d, 2H), 7.61 (d, 2H), 7.39 (t, 2H), 7.31(t, 2H), 5.48 (b, 1H), 4.42 (m, 2H), 4.23 (m, 2H), 3.85 (m, 2H), 3.64 (s, PEG), 2.90 (m, 2H), 2.84 (m, 4H). LC/MS RT 3.042 min, rn/z 1466 (M+l)+.

Intermediate 5b r\~
O ~I 0 ~~ o \ oH
'\ nY Il' ~ i O"~-fI N
i OH Jaa H o l~
oII lJ
HNxH
A solution of lc (27.2mg, 71.58 mol) in DMF (1.5mL) was added to 5a (105mg, 71.67 mol) followed by DIPEA (50 L, 287.6 mol) and stirred overnight. LC/MS
showed the formation of the product (RT 2.881 min) and some unreacted starting material.
The reaction mixture was concentrated and the product was isolated by reverse phase chromatography as described for the 3b to give 68mg (55%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), S
9.89 (s, 1H), 8.08 (b, 1H), 7.84-7.90 (m, 4H), 7.68 (d, 1H), 7.55 (d, 2H), 7.42 (m, 2H), 7.33 (m, 2H), 6.97 (m, 1H), 5.40 (b, 2H), 4.21-5.40 (m, 6H), 3.22-3.71 (m, includes PEG), 3.15 (m, 1H), 2.9-3.08 (m, 2H), 2.4 (m, 2H), 1.96 (m, 1H), 1.72 (m, 1H), 1.62 (m, 1H), 0.76-0.9 (m, 6H). LC/MS RT 2.879min, m/z 1731(M+1)+.

Effector Species (V) O
i \
0 N q OII
OxH l I /
~ OII O
HzNO~ NHN N I /
Jxa H O H
O
N
H'NxH
1-(Chloromethyl)-3-[(2E)-3-(4-inethoxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-benzo[e]indol-5-amine (20mg, 50.96 mo1), (prepared as described in W003097635) in acetonitrile (1.5mL) was treated with 20% solution of phosgene in toluene (100 L) for 4h, then concentrated by rotary evaporation and left on the vacuum line for 0.5h. The crude product was re-dissolved in acetonitrile (lmL) and added under nitrogen to another solution of the 5b (60mg, 34.7 mo1) in acetonitrile (1.5mL) followed by DMAP
(212mg, 1.738mmo1). The reaction mixture was stirred in the dark and monitored by LC/MS
which showed that the formation of the product was followed by loss of the Fmoc-protecting group to give a mixture of the Fmoc-protected and unprotected amine.
Therefore the reaction mixture was concentrated and treated with 20%
piperidine in DMF
for 3h. It was then concentrated again and the crude was subjected to reverse phase column chromatography eluting with water-MeOH to give the product (12mg, 18%).
1H.n.m.r. (CDC13), S 9.25 (s, 1H), 8.14 (b, 1H), 7.15-8.05 (m, 15H), 6.04 (b, 1H), 5.17 (m, 1H), 3.94-4.75 (m, 6H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.45-3.72 (m, includes PEG), 3.25 (m, 1H), 2.6 (m, 2H), 2.25 (m, 2H), 1.96 (m, 1H), 1.72 (m, 1H), 1.62 (m, 1H), 0.76-0.9 (m, 6H).
LC/MS RT 2.908min, rn/z 1927(M)+.
Intermediate 6a o oi O I .
O~N
H
%0ccc HiN"

To a solutionll of lb (250mg, 0.415mmo1) in DMF (2.5mL) was added 7-isocyanato-methyl-chromen-2-one (167mg, 0.83mmo1) (prepared as described in Anal.
Biochem., 1992, 200, 400-404) a.nd the reaction mixture was stirred at 50 C until LC/MS
indicated completion of the reaction (2h). Solvent was removed under vacuum and the crude was subjected to column chromatography using DCM-MeOH, 9:lto give the product (109mg, 33%. 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), S 10.26 (s, 1H), 10.10 (s, 1H), 8.11 (m, 1H), 7.89 (m, 2H), 7.56-7.76 (m, 5H), 7.29-7.46 (m, 8H), 6.24 (s, 1H), 6.00 (m, 1H), 5.41 (s, 1H), 5.14 (s, 1H), 4.44 (m, 1H), 4.23-4.41 (m, 3H), 3.93 (m, 1H), 2.85-3.18 (m, 2H), 2.38 (s, 3H), 2.00 (m, 1H), 1.68 (m, 1H), 1.62 (m, 1H), 1.32-1.52 (m, 2H), 0.80-0.9 (m, 6H).
LC/MS RT
3.329min, m/z 803 (M)+, 804 (M+1)+.

Intermediate 6b p I
p I \
p I \
HzN N H /

O
HZNH
6a (105mg, 0.131mmol) was suspended in DMF (2mL) and a 20% solution of piperidine in DMF (lmL) was added and stirred for lh. The clear solution was rotary evaporated to dryness and the residual crude was triturated in DCM, filtered, washed repeatedly with DCM and dried to give 69mg (91%). 1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 810.26 (s, 1H), 10.15 (s, 1H), 7.62-7.71 (m, 3H), 7.39-7.42 (m, 2H), 6.24 (b, 1H), 5.40 (b, 1H), 5.14 (b, 1H), 2.89-3.18 (m, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 1.98 (m, 1H), 1.66 (m, 1H), 1.59 (m, 1H), 1.40 (m, 2H), 0.90 (d, 3H), 0.79 (d, 3H). LC/MS RT 2.339min, m/z 581 (M)+, 582 (M+1)+.

Intermediate 6c \ ox~ ~ :

H3N~H
A mixture of 5a (100mg, 68.26mmol), 6b (39.7mg, 68.3 mo1) and DIPEA (30 L, 172.6 mol) in DMF (1.5mL) was stirred overnight when LC/MS showed completion of the reaction. All volatiles were removed by rotary evaporation and the residue was triturated several times with ether-DCM, 9:1, filtered, washed with the same solvent and dried to give (80mg, 54%). iH.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), b 10.25 (s, 1H), 10.01 (s, 1H), 8.11 (m, 1H), 7.89 (m, 2H), 7.63-7.72 (m, 4H), 7.31-7.42 (m, 5H), 6.24 (s, 1H), 6.00 (m, 1H), 5.41 (s, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 4.13-4.40 (m, 3H), 3.50-3.72 (m, includes PEG), 3.13-3.33 (m, 2H), 2.89-3.13 (m, 1H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 2.00 (m, 1H), 1.19-1.80 (m, 5H), 0.80 (m, 6H). LC/MS
RT 3.052min, m/z 581 (M)+, 582 (M+1)+.
Effector Species (VI) o oi o 'I
I
xN ~
O" ~
H
p O ~

Hp~ SHN

H~N6c (74mg, 34.24 mol) in DMF (2mL) was treated with 20% piperidine solution in DMF
(2mL) for 2h. The solution was evaporated to dryness and repeatedly triturated in ether-DCM, 4:1, filtered, washed with the same solvent and dried to give 38mg (57%).

1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), S 10.25 (s, 1H), 10.02 (s, 1H), 8.11 (m, 1H), 7.88 (m, 1H), 7.55-7.71 (m, 6H), 7.35-7.49 (m, 5H), 6.24 (s, 1H), 6.00 (m, 1H), 5.42 (s, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 4.38 (m, 1H), 4.21 (m, 1H), 3.10-4.18 (m, includes PEG), 3.00 (m, 2H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.98 (m, 1H), 1.71 (m, 1H), 1.61 (m, 1H), 1.30-1.52 (m, 2H), 0.86 (m, 6H). LC/MS RT
2.479min.
Intermediate 7a 1 / O'U'H~O JnTrO
o O

Boc-PEG-NHS MW 3400 Da (100mg, 29.4 mol) purchased from Nektar was stirred in 50% TFA in DCM containing 2% triisopropylsilane for 40min, then the solution was evaporated to dryness, co-evaporated thrice with DCM and left on the vacuum line for 2h.
5 Nnrnr of the crude (CDC13) clearly showed the removal of the Boc-group.
Dissolved in acetonitrile-water, 1:1 (2mL) and treated with Fmoc-OSu (12mg, 35.61 mol) and DIPEA
(50 L, 0.29mmol) for lh. LC/MS (following the ionisation mode) showed full conversion to a new product at RT 2.186min, compared with the starting material RT
2.186min (ionisation mode). The reaction mixture was concentrated to remove organics 10 then diluted with water and freeze dried. The solid was triturated several times with ether, filtered and washed repeatedly with ether to give 104mg. This was immediately dissolved in DCM (2.5mL) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (4mg, 34.78 mol), DCC (7mg, 34 mol) and DIPEA (15 L, 86.3 mo1) were sequentially added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 3.5h. Filtered through a small plug of Celite, rotary evaporated to dryness 15 and the solid was crystallised from ether, filtered, washed repeatedly with ether and dried in vacuum to give 105mg (92% overall). Nmr (CDC13) of the crystalline material was difficult to accurately interpret.

Intermediate 7b o o /
OJLH(~

'~ II
I i Oyp~ ylH O H N H
O

20 HaN~H
A mixture of 7a (100mg, 28.393 mo1), 6b (16.5mg, 28.4 mol) and DIPEA (15 L, 86.28 mo1) in DMF (lmL) was stirred until LC/MS indicated the consumption of II
(48h). It was then evaporated to dryness and digester in ether-DCM, 4:1, filtered and washed with the same solvent then ether and dried to give 96mg (85%).
1H.n.m.r.

25 (DMSO-d6), S 10.25 (s, 1H), 10.22 (s, 1H), 9.44 (s, 1H), 8.65 (m, 1H), 8.12 (m, 1H), 7.62-7.72 (m, 5H), 7.39-7.49 (m, 3H), 7.18 (m, 1H), 6.25 (s, 1H), 6.00 (m, 1H), 5.14 (s, 1H), 4.04 (m, 2H), 3.22-3.64 (m, includes PEG), 2.42 (m, 3H), 2.08 (m, 1H), 1.73 (m, 1H), 1.63 (m, 1H), 1.36-1.57 (m, 2H), 1.24 (m, 3H), 0.93 (m, 3H). RT for the ionisation peak 2.648min.

Effector Species (VII) p I
I \
O~N /
H
p H O
H_N.p"~ANN
H p H

~N1H

7b (86mg, 21.56 mol) in DMF (2mL) was treated with 20% piperidine in DMF
solution (lmL) for 2h. The resulting solution was rotary evaporated to dryness and the residual solid was digested in ether-DCM, 4:1, filtered, washed with the saine solvent and dried (32mg, 39%). IH.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 8 10.25 (s, 1H), 10.66 (s, 1H), 9.5 (b, 1H), 8.22 (b, 1H), 7.62-7.74 (m, 4H), 7.34-7.44 (m, 2H), 7.18 (m, 1H), 6.22 (s, 1H), 6.00 (m, 1H), 5.4 (s, 1H), 5.12 (b, 1H), 4.04 (m, 2H), 3.65 (m, 1H), 3.42-3.64 (m, includes PEG), 3.12 (m, 1H), 3.00 (m, 1H), 2.42 (m, 3H), 1.90 (m, 1H), 1.1.54-1.79 (m, 3H), 1.33-1.53 (m, 2H), 0.74-0.93 (m, 6H). RT for the ionisation peak 2.579min.

Solublising Species (i) 3-amino-1,2-propanediol (ii) amino-dPEGTM4 alcohol purchased from Quanta Biodesign (iii) m-dPEGTM12 amine purchased from Quanta Biodesign (iv) m-dPEGTM4 amine purchased from Quanta Biodesign (v) m-dPEGTM24 amine purchased from Quanta Biodesign (vi) Etlianaminium, 2-[[(2-aminoethoxy)hydroxyphosphinyl]oxy]-N,N,N-trimethyl-, inner salt prepared as described in the literature A general procedure for polymer loading The desired polymer (one of A-F) (usually 10-25 mg) is dissolved in anhydrous DMF (2-2.5mL) by warming and the clear solution is then cooled to ambient temperature. The desired molar equivalents of the effector species (one of (I)-(VII)) to be loaded is added followed by twice this number of equivalents of DIPEA and the mixture stirred at 45 C.

The progress of the reaction is followed by LC/MS by monitoring the consumption of the effector species in the reaction mixture. On completion of the reaction (usually 24-48h) an excess of the solubilising species (one of (i)-(vi)) is added and the reaction is stirred for a furtherl6-24h, again at 45 C. All volatiles are then removed by rotary evaporation under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in water and filtered through either Celite or a 0.2 meter filter. The filtrate is then transferred to a centrifugal filtration tube with a 5000 or 10000 NMCO membrane (depends on the molecular weight of the loaded polymer) and centrifugal filtration is carried out at 4000rpm. The tube is replenished with fresh water and the process repeated for 4 times. All material unable to pass through the filter is collected and freeze dried to give the desired loaded polymer.

Loaded Polymer Example 1 Based on Polymer C (DP=41) ~' I 1 CI 35 Cl ~
~~iSS
Oi~ J i NH (NH
}-OH
COH
L
O HN
~N O

O
HN

1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 8 10.00 (s), 7.10-8.15 (m), 6.23 (m), 5.36-5.4 (m), 5.05-5.12 (m), 4.25-4.45 (m), 4.08-4.24 (m), 2.78-3.71 (m, 2.64-2.76 (m), 0.5-2.4 (m).
It will be appreciated that the effector and solubilising moieties are attached randomly to the comb polymer backbone.

A general procedure for the disulfide reduction of the loaded polymers.

The loaded polymer (usually 5-20mg) is dissolved in phosphate buffer pH 7.8-8.0 (0.5-1mL) and stirred under nitrogen. A solution of the reducing agent, tri-hydroxypropylphosphine (usually 5 molar equivalent) in the same buffer is then added and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for 4h. After such time, the reaction mixture is diluted with carbonated water (-pH 5) and filtered through Celite or a 0.2 meter filter. The solution is then subjected to centrifugal filtration as described above using carbonated water, and freeze dried to give the thiol terminated loaded polymer in 80-95% yield.

Reduced Polymer Example 1 Based on Polymer C (DP=41) C/ O
C! 6 35 1~ H~iSH
O
NH NH
~ OH
OH

~-(k0 HN

' ~ N
0 O d-0 It will be appreciated that the effector and solubilising moieties are attached randomly to the comb polymer backbone.
A general procedure for maleimide derivatisation of the loaded polymers.

To a solution of reduced polymer (approx 5mg) in ethanol water, 1:1 (200 L) is added a solution of 10 molar equivalents of a bis maleimide such as1,11-bis-maleimidotetraethylene glycol also in ethanol-water, 1:1 (200 L). After stirring forl.5h the reaction is diluted with water and subjected to centrifugal filtration as previously described.

Malemide Polymer Example 1 Based on Polymer C (DP=41) OH
OH
O
~'"N O
O H
H:N /!H
l_(k O
HN
/ ~
N

1H.n.m.r. (DMSO-d6), 810.25 (s, 1H), 10.02 (s, 1H), 7.02-8.10 (m), 5.98-6.24 (m), 5.42-5.68 (m), 5.13 (bs), 4.30-5.05 (m), 2.60-3.94 (m), 2.36 (bs), 0.29-2.24 (m).
It will be appreciated that the effector and solubilising moieties are attached randomly to the comb polymer backbone.

Examples of Loaded Polymers Prepared Effector Loaded Polymer Polymer Species / Solublising Polymer Polymer derivatised number Species Yield Reduced? with maleimide?
C (1) / 6 (i) 110mg / /
(83%) E (1) / 25 (i) 24mg / /
(71%) E (I) / 50 (i) 15mg /
(66%) C (I) / 12 (i) 11.5mg / /
(52%) C (II) / (6) (i) 18mg / /
(88%) C (11) / (12) (i) 25mg (70%) C (I) / 6 (vi) 30mg (54%) B (III) / (2) (i) 22mg (53%) C (I) / 6 (iv) 12.1mg (55%) C (III) / (6) (ii) 8.4mg (70%) C (III) / (6) (iii) 18.1mg /
(89%) B (III) / (6) (iii) 13mg /
(97%) B (VII) / (13) - 16.9mg /
(94%) C (VI) / (6) (v) 12.1mg /
(79%) C (V) / (6) (v) 15mg /
(88%) C (IV) / (6) (iii) 13.8mg /
(66%) Polymer Conjugate 1 Method 1 Maleimide Polymer Example 1 in DMF was incubated with reduced Fab' (prepared by reduction with 5mM 2-mercaptoethylamine for 30 min at 37 C and removal of excess 5 reductant by PD-10 colunui) in 0.1M sodium phosphate, 2mM EDTA, pH 6.0 buffer.
Maleimide Polymer Example l:Fab' molar ratios of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25:1 were used.
The final Fab' concentrations were 2mg/ml and DMF was present at 20% final.
The reaction mix was maintained at RT for lhr and overnight at 4 C.and then the extent of reaction determined by SDS PAGE analysis under both non-reducing and reducing 10 conditions and by GPC HPLC in 0.2M phosphate, pH 7.0 /10% EtOH.
Method 2 Reduced Fab'(prepared as above) was incubated with a 5 fold excess of 1,11-bismaleimidotetraethyleneglycol at RT for lhr and overnight at 4 C. Excess 1,11-15 bisinaleimidotetraethyleneglycol was removed by PD-10 column and the resultant Fab'-(1,11-bismaleimidotetraethyleneglycol) conjugate was incubated with Reduced Polymer Example 1 in 0. 1M sodium phosphate, 2mM EDTA, pH 6.0 buffer at Intermediate 6:Fab' conjugate molar ratios 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25:1. The final Fab' conjugate concentration were 2mg/ml and DMF was present at 20% final.
Purification of Polymer conjumate 1 Pooled reaction mixes from either of the above two methods were applied to a SP-Sepharose HP column in 50mM sodium acetate, pH 4.50 buffer. Products were eluted using a salt gradient of 0-250mM over 20 colunm voluines. The product was isolated as evidenced by analysis of fractions by SDS PAGE and by MALDI-TOF which showed that a species had been prepared and isolated with the correct molecular ion.

Claims (10)

1. A process for producing a comb polymer comprising the steps of :
a) providing:
(i) (w+z) molar equivalents of a monomer;
(ii) one molar equivalent of an initiator compound of formula (IX) wherein B3 represents a halogen, B2 represents H or a halogen, Y1 represents a group capable of attaching the residue of an antibody or fragment thereof or capable of being converted into such a group, L
represents a linker group, y is 1, 2 or 3, w is at least 1 and z is 0 or greater;
(iii) a catalyst capable of catalysing the polymerisation of a plurality of the monomers to produce the comb polymer; and b) causing the catalyst to catalyse, in combination with the initiator, the polymerisation of a plurality of the monomers (i) to produce the comb polymer.

2. A comb polymer obtainable by the process of claim 1.

3. An initiator compound of formula (IX) wherein B3, B2, Y1, L and y are as defined in claim 1.

4. A process according to claim 3, further comprising step (c) in which the comb-polymer produced in step (b) is reacted with w equivalents of one or more effector molecules and z equivalents of one or more solubilising moieties wherein w and z are as defined in claim 1.

5. A comb polymer obtainable by the process of claim 4.

6. A process for attaching a comb polymer to at least one antibody or fragment thereof comprising attaching the comb polymer of claim 2 or claim 5 to at least one antibody or fragment thereof.

7. An antibody-comb polymer conjugate obtainable by the process of claim 6.

8. An antibody-comb polymer conjugate according to claim 7 having the formula (Ia) or (Ib):

wherein:
y, B2 and L are as defined in claim 1;
m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 B1 represents a halogen A represents the residue of an antibody or fragment thereof Y represents a spacer group X represents a comb polymer moiety comprising w equivalents of one or more effector molecules and z equivalents of one or more water solubilising moieties, wherein w and z are as defined in claim 1.

9. The antibody-comb polymer conjugate according to claim 8 in which X
comprises the components of formula III and IV in any order wherein:
w and z are as defined in claim 1;
T is absent or a linker group W is an effector molecule Z is a water solubilising moiety M is NH or O
R1 is methyl or H

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody-comb polymer conjugate according any one of claims 7-9 in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents.